India’s Asia Cup victory against Pakistan on September 14 has now spilled beyond the cricket field, with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav facing an ICC review over his post-match remarks.
The review follows a formal complaint filed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which accused Yadav of politicising the game and breaching ICC’s neutrality code. The ICC has confirmed it is reviewing the PCB complaint, saying a formal hearing could be initiated.
ICC takes note of PCB complaint
According to Dainik Jagran, match referee Richie Richardson emailed the Indian team management confirming that the ICC had received two official reports from the PCB. These covered both Yadav’s presentation ceremony speech and his post-match press conference remarks.
In the email, Richardson reportedly stated that after reviewing all evidence and statements submitted by the PCB, Yadav’s comments were viewed to have “potentially harmed the image of the sport” and that a charge should be brought against him.
“The ICC has asked me to handle two reports lodged by the Pakistan Cricket Board regarding comments made by your captain, Suryakumar Yadav, during the presentation and post-match press conference after the India vs Pakistan match on September 14 2025. After examining the full reports and reviewing the evidence, I have concluded that a charge should be brought against Suryakumar Yadav for conduct that brings the game into dispute by making inappropriate comments, which are detrimental to the interest of the game,” the email reportedly said.
The Indian captain now has the option to either accept the charge or face a formal hearing, which would include representatives from the ICC, PCB, BCCI, and Yadav himself.
What Suryakumar Yadav said
In his on-field speech after India’s win, Yadav dedicated the triumph to victims of the Pahalgam attack. “Perfect occasion, taking the time out, we stand by the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. We express our solidarity… Want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery,” he said.
During the subsequent press conference, Yadav added that India’s players had skipped handshakes with the Pakistani side in line with instructions from the BCCI and the Indian government.
“Our government and BCCI, we were aligned today… We came here to just play the game,” he told reporters.
PCB’s reaction and concerns
The PCB filed its complaint on the grounds that Yadav’s remarks amounted to the politicisation of cricket. The board argued that such statements breached the ICC’s code of conduct, which emphasises neutrality and discourages players from bringing political issues into international fixtures.
The matter further escalates tensions between the two boards.
ICC’s next steps
The ICC is expected to announce its decision soon. If Yadav does not accept the charge, the case will proceed to a hearing. The outcome could have disciplinary implications for the Indian captain, ranging from fines to a possible suspension.
